Steal this Idea*: Subway Sign Dresser

Its Friday (yippee!) - time for another Steal this Idea* feature - a tiny show of appreciation for a well executed tutorial.

I still absolutely love my the original subway sign I have hanging in my dining room but I'm not usually a big fan of the DIY kind. For me, the coolness quotient goes down when they weren't actually used in an old timely subway back in the day. All that said, there is a time and a place for everything and this is totally it.

The talent behind Lindauer Designs whipped this one up for sale and also kindly shared how she did it. I especially like how she took the idea and then altered it slightly to suit her purpose. She did a great job keeping the font sizes and layout balanced without being boring. Bravo.I'm loving it.

I notice she used Annie Sloan chalk paint. It seems to be all the rage now but no one can seem to tell me why its worth so much more than regular latex paint so I've never given it a go. Im really digging the look of this treatment so I might just have to try this fancy paint out for myself.

29 comments:

I thought it was a pretty awesome dresser before, but maybe up close the finish was damaged? The execution looks really good, but it's not really my bag. I think the only distressing should come from actual use, not sandpaper.

I am also curious about the chalk paint and what makes it so great. I'd love to learn more about it.

The Annie Sloan paint clings to anything - even glass - without having to sand down and prime first. Also, it gives huge amounts of texture....although you can add water to thin it down to a 'normal' consistancy.

I don't think anything can top real subway art or bus blinds - which reminds me: I have some that need framing!

The chalk paint isn't worth all that. My daughter/blog partner and I made our own chalk paint by adding cheapo plaster of Paris to regular latex paint. We saw the recipe on a blog. We painted her hutch, and it is perfection. She already had the paint, and the plaster of Paris was just a few dollars.

So is the chalk paint clumpy? I wouldn't like that at all. Have you used the Annie Sloan paint to compare it to the latex+plaster option in person? Lots of bloggers I really respect seem to adore it so I can't imagine its all hype.

The Sloan paint is fairly thick but you can water it down. No sanding, no prepping and then when you add the waxes at the end, the look is beautiful. You can use clear wax or tinted wax. It is just so easy, doesn't smell and can be layer and layer, sanding in spots, layer other colors. I am not an expert but seeing what can be done without tons of prep is amazing. I love authentic things too but sometimes sanding a bit give a sad piece real life. I wish I could find/afford a real subway sign/banner but I finally settled for a nice looking Paris reproduction....settled!

That's really cool looking, and I hate to be a stickler but as far as I know there's no "Union Station" in New York! She probably meant Union Square. Just wanted to point it out in case anyone is planning to reproduce it word-for-word. :)

The paint is awesome - I use it for everything - in particular it's great for distressing - sands off like a dream so is great when you want to paint 2 colors, with the bottom coat peaking through or simply distressing to show wood.You can paint indoors because there is no odor at all - and drying time is incredibly fast. And Annie Sloan colors are authentic colors used in European AntiquesHaving said that, you can definitely make your own - 2 parts regular latex ( flat ) paint and 1 part Gesso or Plaster of Paris - not quite as good - but good enough!!!! I have done it myself because ASCP is really very expensive, especially here in Montreal ( Canada ) 51 dollars for 1 tin ( I think in the States it's 38?Suzan

I haven't tried that paint yet either. I don't really get what all the fuss is about. Love that dresser although I have to echo what someone else said..I'm not really into the distressed look. Is that shabby chic where everything looks worn? I've seen some things I like ok, but not a whole house of painted/sandpapered furniture.

I did steal this ideal!! David from cheltenhamroad.wordpress.com had the Lindaur post which he had copied and I knew it was perfect for what I wanting too do! Click the link below to see it! http://ahouseofprojects.blogspot.com/2012/03/subway-chest.html

I don't usually chime in uninvited but I wanted to help those who aren't familiar with the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint understand it's appeal a bit more. Someone asked what all the fuss was about this paint....The fuss is that there is no fuss with it! As Annie says, this is a kind, easy thing to use, water based, environmentally friendly, no fuss paint for furniture, cabinets, walls, floors and more! You even hold the paint brush more easily in your hand. You don't worry about how your strokes are.. you slap it on, and there are so many ways to use it, all with no stripping, or priming and usually no sanding involved. It sticks to virtually most anything. You can use it for indoors or outdoors. Annie even has her building painted in this in England! Outdoors and indoors! It truly is a remarkable paint. Yes, I am biased. I am an Annie Sloan Certified Stockist! But I am also a painting contractor, and have been around a lot of different paints. This paint is different, the company is different, and the appeal is for everyone, whether you are painting cabinets, garage sale finds, family hand me downs, or even something you found at a great price but wrong color new! Hope this helps, but if you want to know more please check out www.anniesloanunfolded.com and talk to a Stockist near you! Oh, by the way....it started in England, but it is made in the USA!!

I have used the Annie Sloan chalk paint and love it! For me its worth the money. I have 3 children age 4 and under and would not be redoing furniture if not for this paint. I can work on a project when they are napping and its dry by the time they awake and theres no smell and I don't have to prep it.

Chalk paint covers EVERYTHING, wood, resin, laminate. It goes a long way, 150 square feet for a quart. The colors are so dense that it only takes one coat. It is expensive, but it has a great quality. I'm not a fanatic, but I just had my first experience with it and I really like it.